Mumbai: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has also joined the award ‘return’ debate. While attacking the writers and artists who are returning the government awards in protest against rising ‘intolerance’, Fadnavis questioned why none of the writers returned their awards following the Khairlanji killings of Dalits in Maharashtra in 2006. He has also asked why no writers returned awards following the chopping of Prof TJ Joseph’s hand in Kerala by some radical Muslim elements.
“I condemn Dadri, I condemn the killing of MM Kalburgi, but these incidents happened under the rule of Samajwadi Party and Congress. I request the writers to criticise and comment, but not to return their awards. I wonder why no writers returned their awards when the Khairlanji killings of Dalits in Maharashtra happened when Congress was in power. In Kerala, professor TJ Joseph's hand was chopped off for setting a question paper. Why no awards were returned then? If writers begin to take sides, be biased, it's not a good thing," he said.
Answering a question on whether different states adopt different approach to whether or not Pakistani artists are welcome in India, he said, “I believe artists have no boundaries. Like Lata didi is very popular in Pakistan. Of course Pakistan is responsible for cross border terror. Pakistan is not a friendly state, I would say pakistan is our enemy. I believe if you allow an individual a valid visa then it is your duty to protect them. The film industry has told me that their films have done big business in Pakistan, it earns them money. We can't be a banana republic. In the Ghulam Ali matter, the artist has never spoken out against India, never made an anti India statement."
He said that the same writers were quiet during the Congress rule.
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